The recent police operation in the Complexo do Alemão has resulted in at least 64 fatalities, including 60 alleged criminals and four police officers. This operation, named “Operação Contenção,” is noted as the largest in the history of Rio de Janeiro, according to state officials.
Operation Contenção: Objectives and Actions
The primary aim of Operação Contenção is to combat the territorial expansion of the Comando Vermelho (CV), a powerful criminal organization, and to apprehend its key leaders operating in Rio and beyond. The police are executing 100 arrest warrants targeting CV members, with 30 suspects believed to have connections outside the state, particularly in Pará.
Results of the Operation
- At least 64 deaths reported.
- 60 alleged criminals killed.
- Two civil police officers and two BOPE officers also deceased.
- 81 arrests made to date.
- Ten rifles, one pistol, three mobile phones, and nine motorcycles seized.
- Two wounded suspects under guard in the Hospital da Penha.
During the operation, several civilians were injured due to stray bullets. Among the victims, one woman sustained a minor injury while at a gym and has since been discharged. Additionally, a BOPE officer received a superficial gunshot wound to the leg during a confrontation in the dense areas of the Complexo do Alemão. Thankfully, he is in stable condition and not in life-threatening danger.
Another casualty, Delegate Bernardo Leal from the Drug Enforcement Division, was also shot in the leg but is reported to be safe and recovering well.
Key Figures in Operação Contenção
Notably, among those apprehended is a suspect identified as the financial operator for Edgar Alves de Andrade, known as “Doca” or “Urso,” a leader within the Comando Vermelho. This arrest highlights the operation’s intent to dismantle the financial structures supporting organized crime in the region.
